Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (133 page)

“Never.”  She giggled.

He looked behind him and seeing they were alone again, started them walking, swinging their hands as they moved quickly forward.  “I could not resist.”

“Did you hear me protesting?  I do not believe I did.”

“No, no . . .  Oh heavens.  What the neighbours must think of us.”

“Scandal!”  Her eyes sparkled.  “You are still blushing!”

“It is the cold.”

“No, dear man.  The snow melts even before it reaches your face, so much heat is radiating from your cheeks!”  She laughed and Darcy shrugged, squeezing her hand even tighter.  “Will, slow down!”  He smiled and surprising her, turned down the alley that ran behind their home.  Darcy opened the gate to their garden, and they stepped within his sought-for privacy.  Elizabeth’s gaze roamed around, but it was far too dark to see anything clearly. 

“It is lovely in the warm weather.”  He promised as he guided her along the pathway.

“Does it resemble Pemberley?  I have read that it is common to have a reflection of the country estate in the garden for Town.”

“Where on earth did you read that?”  He stopped and looked down at her.  “What have you not read?”

She laughed.  “Well, I would say the vast majority of books in your library.” 

“Our library.” 

“Shall you read to me, tonight?”

“No.”  Darcy caressed a long curl through his fingers, and lowered his warm face towards hers.  His tongue traced her mouth as he drew her against his body.

“Mr. Darcy!”  Lowry cried with surprise when he opened the door.  “Pardon me, sir.  I heard some noise out here . . .”  He put down the poker in his hand and bowed.  “We were not to send the coach for another hour.”

  Elizabeth, still within Darcy’s arms blushed and hid her face.  Darcy appeared as unflappable as ever, and grasping her hand, strolled inside.  “Thank you for your vigilance.  Please tell the staff that they may retire, we will not require anything more tonight.” 

“Parker and Judy . . .”

“They are part of the staff, are they not?”  His brows rose and handing his coat and hat to the flustered butler; deftly untied Elizabeth’s bonnet and removed her coat to pile in the man’s arms.  Elizabeth looked at Lowry apologetically, but had no chance to speak.  Darcy had spotted the servants’ stairs, and was already pulling her up them. 

“Fitzwilliam!”  She laughed and tried to keep up. 

“Come on!”  He turned to grin at her.

“I am trying!  Slow down!  How am I to chase after those long legs?”  He stopped and made to pick her up, and she gaped at him.  “Do not dare!”

“Then run.”  He growled and pinching her bottom, gave her a push.  “Go!”  Breathing hard, they reached the landing and Darcy looked around.  “Where are we?”

Elizabeth leaned against his chest and laughed as his arms closed around her.  “You do not know your own house?”

“Well, how often do I come up this way?”  He kissed her and grabbing her hand, pulled them along the dark hall and cried with triumph as he turned a corner into the familiar passageway to the family bedchambers.  He opened the door to their rooms and they were inside with the door shut and locked before Elizabeth could catch her breath.  Darcy at last slowed his frenzied movement and holding her shoulders, rested his forehead on hers.  “We are safe.”

“Were we being chased?”  She giggled and closed her eyes as she leaned against the solid wall of his chest.  “Oh, Will.” 

“Your cheeks are cold.”  He said softly. 

“Are they?”  She breathed.

His mouth wandered over her face, leaving a trail of warmth behind.  “That is better . . .”  He whispered as his lips passed over her skin a second time.  “Blushes.  Warm, beautiful blushes.”  His tongue tasted her lips, and he thrilled when the soft warmth of her tongue slipped into his mouth.  Elizabeth sighed as his confident caresses moved down the curve of her back to find her bottom, and she felt the insistent press of his growing desire.  “I want you so badly . . .” He murmured against her lips.  Elizabeth’s hands were not idle; they travelled over his broad back while she rewarded his passion with exploring kisses that drove him nearly mad. 

“I want you, too.”  She whispered and they fell back against the door.

“You are so warm, dearest.” He groaned as the heat from her body spread through him like a flame, and encircling her in his arms they returned to their kiss.  They rubbed their bodies together, becoming lost in the deepening embrace of their mouths, completely unaware of anything else but their need to be together.

 As they kissed and rubbed their bodies together, the  door thumped, sending the drumbeat of their growing passion echoing throughout the quiet house.  Their mouths met hungrily until he buried his head on her shoulder.  “Oh Lizzy, if I could lift you . . .” Darcy drew away, breathing hard, and the latch moved noisily.  They looked at each other. 

Elizabeth found his hand and squeezed.  “Do you think that . . .”

Darcy lightly bumped his bottom against the door and it rattled in time with his movement.  Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide and his already flushed face reddened more, but they both laughed and he pulled her to rest in his arms.  “Well love, the household is in no doubt that we enjoy each other.” 

“No, no doubt at all.”  She caressed his cheek.  “Do you hurt?”

“I would like to lie down, but only because I want to love you properly.”  His gaze passed over her worried face, and he kissed her.  “Shall we undress?”

“That is an idea.”  She laughed with her hand to her mouth when Darcy immediately let her go and awkwardly stood on one foot until finally collapsing into a chair as he tried to tug off his boots.  “Oh, you silly man!”  She grabbed a hold of the offending footwear and pulled, nearly falling backwards with the effort.  Darcy started to rise and she shook her head.  “Come on, one down, one to go!”

He laughed and presented his foot to her.  “Be careful love, we have enough bruises.”

“I do not know, I rather enjoy knowing that we offend your aunt with our unfashionable looks.”  Her eyes danced and she grasped the boot, this time removing it quickly.  “My turn?”

“Absolutely.”  His eyes were twinkling with good humour.  Darcy rose and pushed her backwards onto the bed.  Elizabeth gasped but he paid her no mind, dropping to kneel before her.  Quickly he untied the ribbons and tossed the boots across the room, immediately followed by her stockings.  His warm hands travelled up her legs to her hips. 

“I want to see all of you, Will.”  She said softly.

Wordlessly, he stood, staring down at her as he removed his coat and dropped it onto a chair.  Elizabeth’s lip caught in her teeth and she watched him, one hand unbuttoning the waist coat while the other untied his neck cloth.  Soon he was without his shirt and reaching to unbutton his breeches.  His eyes were warm.  “You are enjoying this performance, love.” 

“Very much.  I am very fond of looking upon my stunning husband.”  Her admiring gaze only made his chest puff more while his remaining clothes fell to the floor.  “ohhhhhhhh.”  Reaching out for him, she ran her hands down his battered chest and between his legs, and took his penis into her hands.  Darcy watched with fascinated anticipation. 

“Please . . .” He whispered and closed his eyes as the warmth of her mouth closed over him.  “Oh yesssssss.”  Shuddering, he caressed back the hair from her face and watched her mouth loving him.  “I love you.”

Elizabeth’s shoulders shook and laughing, she looked up to find an expression of stupefied pleasure on his face.  “Oh my, to have a drawing of that face for my enjoyment.” 

Darcy blinked.  “Why are you clothed?”

“I was busy?”

“Well . . . off!”  Faster than any lady’s maid, he had her gown unbuttoned and across the floor, and before she could stop to think, found herself reclined against the pillows with her beaming husband beside her.  “Now this is much, much better.” 

“I agree, except for one thing.” 

“Oh?”  Darcy was caressing her body.  His hand travelled over her breasts, watching them filling his palm and moving with his touch.  Her nipples were hard tight buds and unable to resist, he lowered his mouth to suckle them.   “What is missing?”  His muffled voice drifted to her ear.

“I am still cold.”

“Impossible, can you never be satisfied woman?”  He shook his head and in a moment, he was laying on top of her.  “Better?”

“Oh definitely, but . . .”   Again her eyes were worried, and her lip caught in her teeth.

“Dearest, look at me.”  He said seriously, and pushed up on his hands.  “Look at my eyes.”

“They are beautiful.”  She caressed his face.  “They are warm, and happy, and passionate.”

Darcy whispered.  “All of those things, and so much more.  But you see no pain, do you?” 

“Not a hint of it.” Elizabeth relaxed and traced her fingertips down his back. “What do you see in my eyes?” 

“Relief, happiness, love . . .” Darcy kissed her gently.  “Devotion.” 

“I see all of that in you, too.”

“Shall I show you, now?”  His hand caressed over her shoulder to her hip.  “I want to show you all night long.” 

“We will want to sleep all day tomorrow.”  She combed back the hair that fell over his eyes.

“Does that matter?”  Chuckling he rubbed his nose to hers.  “After all, we have been declared unfit for society!”

Elizabeth gasped and giggling, wrapped her arms and legs around her beautiful husband.  “Oh silly me!  How could I forget!” 

Chapter 40

“I
appreciate this so much, Darcy.  I felt terrible arriving uninvited and hearing that you were not downstairs yet.  I was afraid that you had suffered a setback, especially when the footman I spoke to was so careful with what he said.  You are very kind to come.”  Bingley shook his friend’s hand fervently when Darcy arrived at Easterly’s law office.  “I had Hurst read it over, and of course asked that Mr. Easterly model his draft after Mrs. Darcy’s, but my situation is nothing to yours . . .  It is just that time is so short to have this finished and presented to Mr. Bennet, and I truly value your opinion . . .”

“Bingley.”  Darcy stretched his crushed fingers.  “I am well, and it is no trouble.  I am glad to help.”

 “It is just . . . Jane does not bring anything with her.  I did not realize fully how that was a problem . . . well not so much for me, I have no entailment to worry about, but setting things up for her does take a significant sum from the savings I am supposed to use to purchase an estate.”  He stopped when he noticed Darcy’s lips compressed into a thin line and noticed a young man standing nearby with his eyes cast down to his folded hands.  “I should wait for us to be in privacy.”

“Definitely.”  Darcy said quietly and nodded to the waiting clerk.

“Pardon me, Mr. Darcy, but Mr. Easterly would like a word with you when you have completed your business with Mr. Bingley.”

“Thank you, I was going to ask for a moment of his time.”  Darcy nodded and spotting the elderly lawyer inside of the office, lifted his hand and smiled at the pointed glare he received.  “I have a feeling that I am about to have my ear chewed out.”

“Why?”  Bingley looked inside and back to Darcy.

“Because I am the reason he lost one of his best men.” 

“Ah, the offer to Samuel.”

“Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy?  We are ready for you?”  Another man stood at the door and ushered them to a private room.  He set a small stack of papers before them.  “Shall I leave you alone to read it over or would you like me to remain to answer questions?”

“I . . .” Bingley looked to Darcy who smiled slightly and offered no direction.   “I think that we would like to be on our own.  We will call you?”

“Yes, sir.”  Bowing his head, he left and closed the door behind him. 

Bingley’s head shook when Darcy chuckled softly.  “I cannot make a decision on something so simple, how am I to be a husband, let alone own an estate?”

“You are doing fine.  Look at how well you have done so far.”  He tapped the papers and drawing them forward, he began reading, nodding as he came to passages that he recognized from his arrangements for Elizabeth and furrowing his brow curiously as he read of the differences between the two friends.  “It all looks very much in order, Bingley.  You are as generous as you can afford to be.  I know that you want to give her the world, and with this, she will be very comfortable all of her days.  And your daughters will be fine.”

“If I do not have five of them.”  He winked at Darcy.

Darcy’s eyes warmed.  “A houseful of little girls!”  There was a knock at the door and the clerk entered with Bingley’s new will to sign.  Catching sight of Mr. Easterly watching them, he stood.  “I think that you are fine to present this to Mr. Bennet.  Read it over again, and I will go meet with Mr. Easterly, then we can visit the club for a drink to toast your good fortune?  Or better yet, purchase gifts for our ladies?”

Bingley smiled and gathered up the papers.  “What of Mrs. Darcy?  What is she about today?  Shopping?”

“Hmmm.  No.”   He could not control the pride in his eyes or the lift to his chest.  “Elizabeth is resting, she is . . . quite tired.”

“Is she unwell?” 

“Oh, no.”  Darcy said softly and thought of his beautiful, spent wife curled asleep in his arms, and could hear the exhilarating sound of her moaning his name as she found heaven again and again.  “She is . . . very, very well.  I hated leaving her . . .  I cannot wait to return.  I promised her I would not be too long away.”  His pale cheeks coloured and nodding abruptly, he opened the door and left his friend staring after him with his head tilted.  “Mr. Easterly?” 

“Come with me, Mr. Darcy.”  The man said grimly and led the way to his large office.  He closed the door and offering Darcy a seat, sat down himself.  “I think that you know why I wanted to see you.”

“Yes, sir.  I believe that my cousin has exposed my machinations.”

“He had such incredible potential, an absolutely excellent mind, and such compassion . . . which I realize is not always admirable in a man of law, we are to be impartial, but this is family law.  He would have done so well here.”  Easterly sighed.  “Wasted in a hamlet in Derbyshire.”